The Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller meeting at Rutland SC on 8-9 September, sailed in 20 – 25 knots of wind, started in dramatic fashion with Ben Cooper and Alex Jackson from Shoreham storming to a convincing victory in the first race, ahead of Richard Whitworth and Sally Townend and Will Rainey and Liese Ward. Pat Blake, Dave Winder and William Warren took the next three places, after sharing some swimming lessons between them.

Race two was led from the start by Whitworth and Townend, winning in the end comfortably from Pat Blake and Anna Blake, and Dan Alsop and Jane Beaumont. William Warren, Will Rainey and Judith Massey filled the next three places, again after the benefit of some capsizes at the wing mark.

Sunday dawned with the breeze doing much the same, and again Whitworth and Townend stamped their authority on the fleet, winning the race and with it the event with one race to spare. Rainey and Blake enjoyed a tough fight for second place with Rainey eventually coming out on top after they had swapped places half a dozen times. Glen Truswell, William Warren and Dan Alsop were fourth, fifth and sixth.

With Whitworth safely ashore after having already won the meeting, the final race started with Blake and Rainey each needing to beat the other to secure second overall. Another close battle followed with William Warren and Rachel Cooper winning after Glen Truswell and Tim Holden had pushed hard earlier in the race. Crucially Blake got the better of Rainey on the second triangle to secure second overall.

Overall Results

1st Richard Whitworth and Sally Townend 4 pts

2nd Pat Blake and Anna Blake 8 pts

3rd Will Rainey and Liese Ward 9 pts

4th William Warren and Rachel Cooper 10 pts

5th Glen Truswell and Tim Holden 14 pts

6th Dan Alsop and Jane Beaumont 14 pts